Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Sharon remembered how things were between Gabriel and Rebecca and but her tongue. She had been tactless.

'It was an unfair question'. Sharon hated herself for her tactlessness her selfishness. 'I'm sorry'.

Gabriel shrugged. 'It doesn't matter, honestly, it doesn't. Besides, you know damn well that it is irrelevant'.

'Yes', She couldn't fool Gabriel. He knew her too well. 'But I don't think Bryan would want to be saddled with a child'.

'You don't know that's. Gabriel was being maddening reasonable.

'I do', She heard her voice breaking, giving her away.

'You still love him', Oliver said flatly. Sharon didn't answer. There was nothing to say.

Gabriel left soon after and she paced the flat, trying to get things into perspective. To find herself pregnant was a shock. It seemed extraordinary that she had conceived so easily both times she had spent a night with Bryan. But beneath the anxiety and the worry about the future, she felt a tiny, unexpected dart if happiness. Of she was honest, she wanted the child. She didn't know why. Her reasons were too deep rooted, her emotions too mixed up.

Feeling brighter than she had done for weeks, she took a shower, then spent the whole day cleaning the flat. Because she had been away, there were lists of dust and it was a relief to throw herself into some physical work.

She finished at seven,exhausted, glad to put her feet up with a cup of coffee.

Around her the furniture shone, everything spick and span, the faint smell of lavender polish in the air.

She would have a bath. A long hot bath. Then perhaps she would have an omelette. Something might. She couldn't stand the thought of a heavy meal, even though her stomach was empty.

When the doorbell rang, she went to answer it without hesitation,expecting to see Gabriel outside and her heart leaping into her throat when she saw Bryan leaning indolently against the door jamb. She was instantly aware of the mess she must look, her hair dragged back, no make up and dirty old clothes.

Bryan...' she said stupidly, still in a state of shock.

'Very o servant'. His voice was very cool,his mouth a hard line.

'What do you want?' His coldness sparked off defensive anger in her and she was sharp with him.

'Let me in and I'll tell you', he said no kingly straightening away from the wall, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

'We have nothing to say to each other',, she said weakly, overwhelmed by the sight if him. She held the door half closed, blocking the entrance.

'No?' The dark eyes held hers and an undefinable tension seemed to fill the air. 'Are you going to let me in?'

He stepped forward, towering over her and with a defeated shrug, of her shoulders, she was forced to move back.

In the lounge, he turned to her, appraising her slowly from head to toe before his dark glance returned back to her face.

'Why have you come?' she asked trembling. 'What do you want? I thought we had said everything that needed to be said...'

Bryan's mouth hardened.'As I recall, you said nothing to me. You just ran out on me as always'.

'It was the only thing to do', Sharon muttered embarrassed colour pouring into her face.And when Bryan remained silent, 'The best thing to do under the circumstances....'

'Best for who?' he countered harshly.

'For both of us', she bit her tongue ' I didn't know what else...'

'Aren't you going to offer me a drink?' he said changing the subject abruptly, his eyes still brooding over her flushed face. Sharon frowned. 'I've only got tea or coffee...'

'Coffee will be fine', he replied politely.

In the kitchen, her hands shook as she got the cups out of the cupboard. Why was he here, she wondered, looking at herself in the tiny mirror by the door and noticing with an inward groan that her face was smeared with dirt. And why did she have to look such a sight?

She smoothed back her hair and washed her face before making up the tray. Surely, he didn't know? There was no way that he could, she thought, her heart pounding. She had only found out herself that morning.

Another cause for anxiety was that Deborah was in the room sleeping a d if she woke, she would definitely come to the sitting room and Bryan would see her. She did not know which to avoid. She was rely in a dilemma.

She definitely took her time. Nerves fluttering in her stomach but in the end, she had to go back into the lounge.

Bryan was standing by the window, a tall powerful figure in jeans and a dark shirt He turned as she came in, taking the tray from her shaky hands.

'I can manage', she protested, on the defensive immediately.

'Can you?' His low voice was openly sceptical. He took in the sleepless shadows beneath her eyes, the line of tension between her beautiful straight mouth. 'I doubt it, I doubt it very much'.

Sharon bit back an acid retort. She was fully aware that in a battle of wits, she could not win against him.

They drank the coffee in silence. Glancing at Bryan beneath her eyelashes, her heart constricted with anguish. She loved him very much.

She allowed herself to dream for a while, imagining that he loved her in return. How beautifully simple it would be. She would tell him about the baby and about his daughter Deborah and he would be happy... she dragged her thoughts back to the present, admonishing herself sternly, foolish dreams like that could only hurt her.

Gabriel thought that Bryan had a right to know about the baby but Sharon decided at that moment that she would not tell him. It was her responsibility. She didn't want the help or the pity if a man who did not love her. As she carefully placed her empty coffee cup on the table, she looked at him and found him staring back, a dark anger in his eyes.

'Why have you been avoiding me?' he asked, holding her gaze.

'Have I?'

'You know damn well you have'. The anger was still there but also a mocking amusement.

Sharon felt her anger boiling up. She didn't find the situation at all amusing. Her nerves were stretched to a breaking point and her stomach was churning.

'As far as I am concerned, if there was anything between us, it's over', she said coldly. 'If I have been avoiding you, it's because I have nothing to say to you'.

Breaking eye contact,she stood up, moving jerkily to the window.

Bryan moved too, swiftly and silently, fury in every line of his body. He caught her arm urgently, spinning her round to face him, his eyes burning into hers.

'Over?' he repeated softly, a cold amusement curving his lips. 'You are carrying my child, Sharon. I'd say that made it far from being over, wouldn't you?'